Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Can We Talk!

If it doesn't belong to you;don't take it!

~ My Mother ~

I'd like to discuss the artwork you find on my blog. I love to tinker and create. In particular I do a COG poster each month in tribute to Jasia and the Carnival of Genealogy. They are the reason I started blogging. I owe them.

The purpose of each poster is to promote the upcoming COG. Everyone has permission to use the poster in conjunction with their COG submission or to post it on their blog to promote the COG.

The COG posters are not public domain clip art. I am extremely careful to re-purpose posters, magazine covers, and art from the many image source books I own that ARE public domain art.

It often takes days of searching for the perfect source for that month's inspiration. Many of the sources I choose have elements that must be surgically removed in Photoshop. This also takes time.

I am saddened when I see my hard work acquired and used in the "original" work of someone else. Someone who has not asked permission nor even gone so far as to have given attribution. (I hope you are new to this world and just weren't aware of the etiquette.)

Those who know me are aware that if you need a graphic and you come to me, I will make one for you. If you come to me and ask to use anything I own or have made, I will give it to you.

It is the thoughtless taking that bothers me. Would you come to my home and remove it from my computer? Of course not.

So, please, go search for the artwork yourself. As I said, it's in the public domain. Re-purpose the image to your satisfaction. You will find it far more rewarding than taking my work.